Korean owned zinc refiner Sun Metals says the 116MW solar farm that it began building this week will likely underpin expansion of its north Queensland refinery business – already one of the biggest energy consumers in the state – and create as many as 100 permanent new jobs.

Sun Metals CEO Yun Choi said on Wednesday that the 116MW solar farm, which is being built by First Solar 15km south of Townsville, will provide around one third of the refinery’s electricity needs, and would not only ensure the viability of the existing plant, but had underpinned the company’s plans for expansion.

“The SMC Solar Farm investment of $199 million is the first step in Korea Zinc ensuring the long term viability of the existing refinery and also underpinning the potential for its expansion using world class new technology, with an investment decision due in late 2017,” he said in comments made on Wednesday at an official ceremony.

Founded in Queensland in 1996, the refinery currently has a staff of 291 and produces 225,000 tons of zinc a year, using more than 900,000 megawatt-hours of electricity, Choi said.

“An expanded refinery would see an additional $267 million invested and is expected to support up to 827 construction jobs during peak construction and an additional 100 permanent refinery workers once operational, all within North Queensland,” Choi added.

“The …expansion will also see an increase in broader economic activity for Townsville, with significant increase in Townsville Port activities, uplift for local suppliers and contractors and also, via use of new refining technology, reduced water usage and environmental outputs.”

As we reported here, Sun Metals’ move to solar follows extraordinary price surges on Australia’s wholesale electricity markets, and particularly in Queensland, where they are about double the cost of solar in 2017.

“This is a large refining company that views solar as better alternative to their current power solution,” said Jack Curtis, First Solar’s regional manager for Asia Pacific in comments made in February.

“This project represents the viability of the commercial and industrial solar market in Australia and the growing trend of major energy consumers owning and operating renewable energy assets.”

Indeed, while the Sun Metals project is the first large-scale solar farm to be built directly by a major energy user in Australia, it will not be the last.

In the US and elsewhere, big corporates like Google, Apple and Amazon have committed to sourcing 100 per cent of their electricity needs from renewables. A recent report found that five of America’s largest tech companies have signed power purchase agreements for nearly 3,100MW from renewable resources.

Sun Metals’ solar project is expected to be completed in early 2018 and fully commissioned and providing renewable energy into the refinery’s energy mix by April 2018.

Queensland energy minister Mark Bailey said the project was also expected to create 210 solar powered jobs during construction.

“Through government-owned Powerlink, the Palaszczuk government will facilitate connection of Sun Metal’s new power station to the grid,” Bailey said on Wednesday.

“This solar farm will see renewable energy added into Korea Zinc’s mix of base-load power required to run its zinc production line – with the solar farm supplying about a third of the refinery’s current baseload power needs.

“Use of renewable energy in this way not only demonstrates it as a reliable energy source for large-scale industry, but that Korea Zinc is committed to the people of North Queensland, to minimising carbon emissions and protecting the Great Barrier Reef,” he said.

8 Comments

john 2 years ago

At a conservative assessment for output of 180,000 MwH power per year the cost of this power over 10 years will be 10c KwH no wonder they are doing it.
Each and every high user of power should take note especially those large shopping centers with large roof areas and high usage of power for AC mainly used during the daylight hours.
The problem with shopping centers is that they are owned by companies, who do not care less, they know they have created a desirable shopping precinct and frankly do not give a hoot about the small business owners who have to cop their lease deals on a take it of leave it basis.

Stan Hlegeris 2 years ago

Spot on, John. The biggest barrier to widespread adoption of solar PV by business operators is obstruction or indifference on the part of landlords.

This is doubly-diabolical because solar makes even more sense for daytime businesses than it does for residences. Even a small shop–with lights and air con running all day–uses more electricity than a normal residence, and it uses most of it during the sunny part of the day.

The next leap forward will come from the creation of either an irresistible commercial offer or sensible legislation to give commercial landlords a big kick into the new era.

Chris A 2 years ago

Actually, if you think that 10cKwH is actually $100 MWh, then that is not a very good business case really in the context of todays electricity markets. More likely there sums are over 20 years and is made attractive by the fantastic prices for LGC’s in the first few years till 2020 which reduces payback period. Its really quite sad that there is a business case to do this in a market like QLD where there is excess generation capacity, but something has to be done to break the government owned generators monopoly.

David Mitchell 2 years ago

Actually, $100/MWh is less than current Queensland wholesale price plus there is the avoided cost of transmission and the loss factor for Townsville (about 10% from memory). Add to that fixed cost with no indexation and you get an LGC contribution while the prices are high.

It is an outstanding business case.

Phil 2 years ago

Spot on indeed (shopping centers) . And it’s happening

ozonator 2 years ago

But but but … the greatest “scientist” and “economist” of the US’s extreme Republicans/Christians says that any “solar farm will underpin zinc refinery expansion” is only due to Chinese and former US President Obama’s subsidies.

Blaming Chinese manufacturers for selling in an open market is like blaming them for Brexit while Loser still fails to sell the more expensive lumps of coal to his dying dittoheads, “The Great Solar Panel Scam … May 15, 2017 … RUSH: … From The Daily Caller. This is actually from earlier in the weekend. “The company once hailed as Europe’s largest solar panel producer filed for bankruptcy Wednesday, blaming cheap Chinese panels for flooding the market.” … ’cause they can’t compete with the cheap garbage the ChiComs are making. … The largest American solar panel maker got $206 million in subsidies to boot! Just like Solyndra, they were a big Obama donor … They went bankrupt. … And God forbid if you have a cloudy day and you are served by solar panels” (the old, ugly, barren, and false idol Rush “loser” Limbaugh, workplace gun & Jesus free since 1987, 100% fetal mortality through sham marriages and sex-tourism, reader for EssoKoch-tards and other tentacles of the extreme GOP, practices CO2 chemistry like oxy abuse, new Dark Ages, tRump-plug, AGW denier, and other legal crimes against nature & humanity in a Motel 6 and at rushlimbaugh.com – will be treated as an AGW enemy combatant by surviving countries).